Magazine loading guide

ABSTRACT

A loading guide is provided for attachment to the casing of a cartridge magazine so that a clip of cartridges can be correctly positioned for stripping into the mount of said magazine. In order that the guide may be useable with different models of magazines, which might differ in shape or dimensions, different means for attaching the guide to a magazine are provided at each end of the guide.

United States Patent 1 Musgrave 54'] MAGAZINE LOADING GUIDE [76]lnventor: Daniel D. Musgrave, 8201 Caraway Street, Cabin John, Md. 20731[22] Filed: June 11, 1971 [21] App1.No.: 152,072

[52] US. Cl ..42/87 [51] Int. Cl ..F42b 39/06 [58] Field of Search..42/87, 50

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,462,836 3/1949 Barker eta1... ..42/87 3,191,332 6/1965 Ardolino ..42/50 [11] 3,710,497 [451 Jan.16, 1973 3,222,810 12/1965 Musgrave I, ..42/50 2,856,720 10/1958 Kuntz..42/87 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt Assistant ExaminerC. T.Jordan 57 ABSTRACT A loading guide is provided for attachment to thecasing of a cartridge magazine so that a clip ofcartridges can becorrectly positioned for stripping into the mount of said magazine. Inorder that the guide may be useable with different models of magazines,which might differ in shape or dimensions, different means for attachingthe guide to a magazine are provided at each end of the guide.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures MAGAZINE LOADING GUIDE The detachable boxmagazine has become the dominant type for military rifles throughout theworld. The term box magazine is a broad one, for it includes severalgeometric variations, such as curved box magazines. The variation is indetails, rather than in the general principle of operation. The dominanttype today holds the cartridges in two staggered rows, and thecartridges advance to the feed position, under spring pressure, as agroup. Feeding takes place alternately from the left and the right feedlip of the magazine. The space between the lips is greater than themaximum diameter of a cartridge, thus allowing convenient filling of themagazine.

It is the common practice to issue cartridges on stripper clips, holdingsome convenient number such as five or ten. The cartridges are easilystripped from the clips, but some means must be provided to position theclip in a correct location relative to the space between the lips of themagazine. It is the common practice to issue with the stripper clips ofcartridges a simple mechanical guide which attaches to the magazine andsupports the clip during filling of the magazine. The described practicehas developed over a long period of time, and is efficient andconvenient.

In a few rifles using detachable box magazines a clip guide is builtinto the rifle, to permit refilling the magazine without detaching it.With such a rifle, the detachable box magazine can be filled withcartridges either while attached to, or detached from, the rifle. Butthe common practice in military forces today is to fill the magazineswhile detached from the rifle. The present invention relates to thefilling of magazines while detached from the firearm. It is not intendedto limit the invention to any particular class of firearm, and thediscussion of rifles as examples should not be considered limiting.

Another common practice today is the use of interchangeable cartridgesby several or even many nations. This simplifies supply, particularlyamong nations participating in joint military operations.Standardization of cartridges may be followed by standardization ofstripper clips, but there has been a definite tendency toward adiversification of magazines. This is because the magazine is consideredpart of the rifle and its design will reflect the likes and dislikes ofthe designer. To use the standardized stripper clips of interchangeablecartridges with diverse magazines it becomes necessary to provide adiversity of loading guides. If a suitable guide is not available, thecartridges must first be removed from the stripper clip and then placedin the magazine by hand, one at a time. In some instances, magazinesdiffer only slightly and a loading guide can be designed to fit two ormore different magazines.

But it is usually not possible to make a simple guide to fit all themagazines in use for the same cartridge. This is the situation forexample, with the 5.56 X 45 mm cartridge now used in the US. Rifle M16.Rifles firing this cartridge have appeared in Belgium, Germany, Italy,and Switzerland. Their magazines differ from each other and from that ofthe Ml 6.

As a result of the aforementioned situation the advantages of thestandardized stripper clips for refilling various magazines can only befully utilized by supplying several different loading guides with everyshipment of ammunition. Such an arrangement is obviously inefficient.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a magazine loadingguide for stripper clips which will be useable with two or moredifferent magazines.

Another object is to provide such a guide which will be simple andeconomical to fabricate.

These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent uponreference to the following specification, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows details of the top rear portions of a typical detachablebox magazine. This is the portion to which a loading guide is usuallyaffixed.

FIG. 2 shows details of the top rear portion of another typicaldetachable box magazine, differing slightly in shape and dimensions fromthe magazine shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a magazine loading guide which is anembodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 shows the same magazine loading guide as FIG. 3 but it is affixedto a magazine and is supporting a stripper clip.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows a portion of amagazine casing 10, having feed lips 11 and 12 and a cartridge followerI13. Attached to and moveable with the follower are last round stops l4and 15 which cooperate with a mechanism in the firearm (not shown) toindicate to the user that the magazine is empty. The casing has a rearrib 17 in which is formed notch 16 which cooperates with a latch on thefirearm (not shown) to retain the magazine on the firearm. A groove 28is formed in casing 10 as a means for affixing a loading guide as willbe described later.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of a magazine casing 20, having feed lips 21 and22 and a cartridge follower 23. Grooves 24 and 25 are formed in thesidewalls of the casing as means for affixing a loading guide as will bedescribed later. Also in one wall of the casing is formed a hole 26which cooperates with a latch on the firearm (not shown) to retain themagazine on the firearm. A rib 27 is formed on the rear of the casing.

The two magazines are illustrated only as examples of the state of theart. The selection of the examples is merely to indicate difi'erences intypical magazines. It is not intended to limit the invention to anyparticular magazine or magazines. Nor is it intended to be limited toany particular cartridge or clip. This invention will be useful withvarious combinations of magazines, clips, and cartridges.

FIG. 3 shows a magazine loading guide 30, having a first end portion 31and a second dissimilar end portion 32. The first and shape of thedetails of each end portion will depend on the configuration of theparticular magazine or magazines it is to be used with. Each end of theguide is provided with means for engaging a magazine. Associated withend portion 31 are tounges 35 and 36 which can engage grooves on amagazine such as grooves 24 and 25 on FIG. 2. Associated with endportion 32 are tounges 40 and 41 which can engage grooves on a magazine.

Still referring to FIG. 3, the guide has stops 33 and 34 which limit theextent to which it can engage with a magazine, by contact with someportion of the magazine. A stiffening rib 37 is formed in the guidewhich also has holes 42, 43, 44 and 45 which are used to allow changesin cross section of the guide. Approximately half way between ends 31and 32 the guide has a FIG. 4 shows the method of using the guide 30 tofill v a magazine, the casing of which is indicated by numeral 10. Endportion 32 has been engaged with the magazine and a stripper clip 50 hasbeen inserted into 7 guide 30 at end portion 31 so as to engage lips 38and 39 which are not visible in FIG. 4. The clip is thus correctlypositioned for stripping cartridges into the magazine. 7

It will readily be apparent that for some suitable magazine the guidecould be installed so that end 31 would engage the magazine while theclip would be inserted into the guide at end portion 32. This permits asimple guide to be employed with two completely dissimilar magazines.

The embodiment of this invention shown in the drawings is merely forillustration. To adapt the principle to various lips and magazineschanges may be made in details.

What I claim is:

1. A magazine loading guide comprising: first end means for attachingsaid guide to a magazine; second end means for attaching said guide to amagazine, said second means being disposed oppositely to said firstmeans on said guide; and support means positionally adapted forretaining a cartridge clip in a loading position relative to a magazinewhen said guide is attached to said magazine.

2. The guide claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first endmeans being dissimilar from said second end means.

3. The guide claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said first endmeans, said second end means, and said support means being integral.

4. The guide claimed in claim 1 further characterized by said supportmeans being located substantially midway between said first and saidsecond end means for attaching said guide to a magazine.

1. A magazine loading guide comprising: first end means for attachingsaid guide to a magazine; second end means for attaching said guide to amagazine, said second means being disposed oppositely to said firstmeans on said guide; and support means positionally adapted forretaining a cartridge clip in a loading position relative to a magazinewhen said guide is attached to said magazine.
 2. The guide claimed inclaim 1 further characterized by said first end means being dissimilarfrom said second end means.
 3. The guide claimed in claim 1 furthercharacterized by said first end means, said second end means, and saidsupport means being integral.
 4. The guide claimed in claim 1 furthercharacterized by said support means being located substantially midwaybetween said first and said second end means for attaching said guide toa magazine.